Clinopodium gracile (Benth.) Kuntze

Slender Wild Basil; Slender Calamint

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Slender Wild Basil is an introduced herbaceous perennial in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to India, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Slender Wild Basil has been found at scattered locations throughout most of Alabama. It grows in flower beds, in lawns, in cemeteries, on roadsides, in bottomland hardwood forests, and along streams. It is a perennial spreading by slender stolons. The stems are erect to ascending, numerous, 3-6 inches in height, square in cross section, green in color, and pubescent. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate in outline, with crenate or serrate margins. The leaves are minutely pubescent on the veins of the lower surface. Flowers are produced in whorls in the axils of the upper leaves and in leafless verticils above the leaves. The calyx is tubular, slightly pubescent with 5 ciliate teeth. The corolla is two-lipped, the upper lip is slightly notched and the lower lip is 3-lobed. The corolla is only slightly longer than the calyx and pinkish-white to pale lavender in color. The fruit is a nutlet.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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